Creating Jehanne Bening: A Unique 15th Century Artist

Hey, all. This is the first step on my story writing adventure guided by the sources I squirreled away last week. It’s a total work in progress. The first task they coached me to do was to flesh-out my main character. So, here I go. Buttons and ogres and flaws. Oh, my!

Historical characters are not about diving deep into their world. And they’re not just on the dates and events. I’ve always paid attention to their quirks, dreams, and struggles. Elements that make them feel human. I’ve attempted to create them in Jehanne Bening. A name I lifted from my 15th-century persona in the Society for Creative Anachronism. But she’s become more than my SCA name; she’s becoming a story waiting to be told.

Building Jehanne’s personality has been an exercise in creativity and empathy. Today, I’d like to introduce her to you. She is a talented and driven youthful artist navigating the challenges of late 15th-century Bruges. A humanist at heart, she values education in classical literature and the ideals of civic virtue.

Jehanne’s story began in Ghent. Her parents, Agnes and Paul Bening (Simon’s brother), made incredible financial sacrifices to secure her apprenticeship in the renowned workshop. That devotion fills her with gratitude and motivates her to excel. However, she has moments of self-doubt that linger despite her efforts. Her upbringing also instilled strong financial values and, perhaps more unusually, a deep-seated fear of ogres.

Life in the workshop isn’t easy for a woman trying to make her mark in a male-dominated world. Still single past the age of twenty-five, Jehanne is fiercely independent. She’s fueled by her love for creating art and the practical need to support herself financially. Her ultimate goal? To eventually prove to Master Bening and the Guild of St. Luke that her artistry stands shoulder-to-shoulder with any man’s, while quietly questioning the societal norms that limit women’s roles.

Loyalty defines Jehanne. She holds her friends and Master Bening in the highest regard, even revering the master for his mentorship. Jehanne is reserved and sometimes tongue-tied around guild officials and Bruges dignitaries. However, she becomes a completely different person among her friends. She is outspoken, warm, and full of care.

Jehanne has always known she was born to be an artist. It’s not just a skill or a trade—it’s her destiny. It’s the thing she treasures above all else. That certainty drives her forward, no matter the obstacles or doubts she faces. To Jehanne, there is no other path. Her art is her identity. She’s determined never to let anyone, or anything take it away.

But Jehanne isn’t blind to her own flaws. She knows she struggles when speaking to people in positions of power, often freezing up or stumbling over her words. Her self-doubt about her artistic abilities nags at her, even as she earns praise for her work. She also has an irrational fear of ogres. It’s a holdover from childhood she tries to shake but can’t quite let go. Jehanne works hard to confront these challenges, but like anyone, she has her moments of failure and frustration.

Her standards in the workshop are second to none. She’s critical of anything that doesn’t meet the impeccable quality expected of the Bening name. However, she doesn’t just talk the talk. She sets the tone. Each day, Jehanne sets a goal to complete three high-priority tasks before noon. She also ensures the workspace is clean and organized before anyone leaves at night. For her, precision and order are non-negotiable.

And then there’s her quirky side. Jehanne has a borderline obsession with collecting buttons—the more unique or exotic, the better. It’s a little passion that reflects her eye for detail and appreciation for the small, beautiful, expensive things in life.

Jehanne has a fascinating mix of qualities. She is ambitious, loyal, vulnerable, and creative. A meticulous artist, a determined woman, and a collector of buttons. Jehanne is a woman determined to carve her own path in a world that often underestimates her.

Crafting Jehanne Bening’s character involved blending historical research with imagination. I hope this process portrayed her as a person who feels real and relatable if flawed. Maybe her story will inspire you to think about other ways we can bring history to life through storytelling.

As I continue to develop Jehanne’s tale, I’d love to hear your thoughts. What traits make a historical character feel authentic to you? How would you describe Jehanne or your SCA persona? Please, share your thoughts and writing experiences with us in the comments below. I look forward to reading them.